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United States889 Posts
We're Zeus knows how far away from the upcoming Proleague, but KesPA has seen fit to torture the players during their only time off with Map Tests, Team Evaluations, and the disaster of entertainment that is the Ultimate Proleague Championship.
Here's the stink. All of these things are meaningless. They haven't been entertaining, fresh, or even too lame to watch, making them the worst possible events. So, since I'm waiting for the go-ahead on my next big article/project, and team previews are the province of the entire writing team and not exclusively yours truly, I'm giving you a SI-style 5 up-5-down.
First, as is always fun, the bad.
Five Down
Those Proleague Map Tests
Thus far in the Map Tests we've seen some pretty boring one-sided games by no-names and the odd big name stomping in the baby face of some hapless SC infant. It's like David and Goliath, except Goliath has the Hell-fire missile upgrade, and when it's not David and Goliath it's the StarCraft equivalent of a spitting contest between Rosie O'Donnell and a sun-burned Carrot Top. They don't prove anything about the maps, they don't interest anyone, and they don't entertain anyone except a depressed Firefly fan needing a break between comic-book fixes.
MBCGame
As much as the Ultimate thingy is a bastardization of what we as StarCraft fans have come to Love, and as much as the Map Tests have been a comedy of trivial pursuits, etc. they've all been on OGN. For the month of September, and part of August, OGN has essentially held a monopoly on broadcasted StarCraft, which we've been led to believe in very lucrative indeed. Minus the Lineup Matches, MBC has probably been forced into awkward chocolate drink commercials and Kart Rider deathmatches, what with their complete SC blackout, and on top of that, they lost Nal_rA to a learned institution, one Where Kart Rider is likely strictly banned. MBC's Always been weaker, but this is sad for them.
Mech ZvT
While the map tests are irrelevant to balance, what is assured is that active progamers have been playing on these maps Day and night, and the coaching staffs have been working out which strategies work and which don't. Of the map tests as of this post, none (at least, as far as I remember) have featured straight mech ZvT. Two have featured double port wraith (successfully employed by Leta, successfully failed by Miracle), but vultures haven't Really been a factor, and the Vulture harass (or at least, the threat of Vulture harass) is an important part of making the meching work.
 DaezanG
He was a beast for about 2 weeks on ACE, but Woongjin isn't going to do anything with him unless they want to shave his head, wax it, and put him on 24 hour duty in their nigh empty trophy case, Just to make the rest of their players feel better. With Pretty on the team, and GuemChi finally not sucking (translated from pessimism as: showing promise), Daezang will not be seeing much, if any, playing time. Woongjin made him their captain, but he's more likely to go the route of TT than  Iris.
WCG Foreigners
About two years ago InControL made a thread claiming a foreigner could win the 2008 WCG, and he made a pretty convincing case. Hell, I believed him. If he had made the same thread for the 2009 WCG then I'd be forced to call him crazy. Stork,  Jaedong, and also Bisu are taking the hop to China to stomp some foreigners and then fight amongst themselves. Minus a hiccup against hero, who Bisu has always struggled against for one reason or another, he's at the top of his game. Jaedong just won a Golden Mouse. Stork is Stork. Non-Korean blood will run in the streets.
Five Up
PvT
Based on my own analysis, the map characteristics, the opinions of other writers, and the games we've seen yet, the new maps look like they're going to bring a bunch of intense PvTs. The best games from the map tests, in my humble opinion, have been the PvTs. I've never been a huge PvT guy, but now seems as good a time as any to get into them.
StarCraft 2
We've all watched/speculated/maligned intently the development the game over an absurd number of events/conferences/battle reports, but the opinion seems to be shifting subtly. Yes, the beta release has had enough speculation done over it to crash the DOW for another 75 years, yes, Blizzard is being obstinate as ever over information and release conditions, but the subtle change is about the gameplay. Most reports are now coming back enthusiastic. Every MBS topic is now a creative rick roll in one way or another. Most of the controversy about the game's aspects have blown over and the substance is now what is being addressed. StarCraft 2, you need to capitalize on this and show us what you can do with the beta. The time is right, the time is now, honey, yes it is.
Foreigner Events
CSL is back, for those who enjoy it. National WCG's are coming to their conclusions. Nostalgia Tournament is happening. There's that Pan-American thingy. And yes, there's the For the Love of the Game tournament, but every tourney seems like it's for that reason these days, and that's why we should be having the most fun with foreigner StarCraft as we've ever had, minus that thing called TSL.
Boxer
He's playing in the map test. He's 29 years old. He hasn't won a game that mattered since the Spring preliminaries. And still, he's playing in the All-Stars match almost assuredly. As far as we know, the last person to go to an All Star game for doing so little was Barry Bonds. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy. If you're a StarCraft fan, you're a Boxer fan, and nothing proves that more than what we're seeing here. Boxer gets credit for being Boxer, and it doesn't get much sweeter than that.
Team Liquid
The birthday of the world's largest SC site comes up in just a few days, and it's alive and kicking. Cerebration time!
You can share your thoughts below, as long as you're not flaming me for indirectly attacking Boxer for being an SKT1 benchwarmer. Attack SKT1 for that.
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Are you sure TL.net is the world's largest SC site? Isn't some of the Korean sites bigger? I mean. A less cool guy like me just doesn't know.
Good post though, I like informative posts like this that kind of re-cap events going on around the SC scene.
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I'm like 90% sure TL has a larger fanbase than ygosu or whatever its called.
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United States889 Posts
On September 14 2009 13:48 Psyonic_Reaver wrote:
Are you sure TL.net is the world's largest SC site? Isn't some of the Korean sites bigger? I mean. A less cool guy like me just doesn't know.
If it's not, I will simply define the universe the exclude whatever site is larger. Problem solved.
EDIT: Crappy 250th post, or awesome 250th post? You decide.
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Largest site outsite of korea...still somthin to b proud of
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is awesome32277 Posts
Teamliquid is the largest Starcraft site!
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The all-stars matches are never taken seriously. It's not the best players, it's the most notable or the ones with the biggest fanbase and shit like that. I'm really out of whack with the SC scene as of late but I'll be tuning in to everything starting again this season, so I don't know who else played the all-star matches. But relax, anything that invites tossgirl and yellow can't exactly be about the better player.
Also, I like the idea of map tests, gives alot of no-names a chance to play on stage, which is pretty valuble to anyone who isn't very accustomed to playing in front of a crowd.
Relax a bit brother, you seem a bit bent out of shape for some reason over this = [
Also, what's the comparison between TT and Iris?
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United States889 Posts
Relax a bit brother, you seem a bit bent out of shape for some reason over this = [
Also, what's the comparison between TT and Iris?
The point still stands about Boxer though. He's 'up' if you will just because he's who he is, and that's great.
I'm not bent out of shape, I'm just having a little fun with negativity  . These are all purely my opinions and I don't expect them to be taken otherwise, but I was pompous enough I thought they'd be worthy of sharing.
The comparison between TT and Iris was the Daezang was made Woongjin captain, but the captain, for a performance standpoint, is a purely ceremonial title. TT was an example of a captain who played hardly at all. Iris is an example of a captain that plays with some frequency. My bet was that Daezang is going to be the kind who doesn't play often.
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On September 14 2009 14:34 Arrian wrote:Show nested quote +Relax a bit brother, you seem a bit bent out of shape for some reason over this = [
Also, what's the comparison between TT and Iris? The point still stands about Boxer though. He's 'up' if you will just because he's who he is, and that's great. I'm not bent out of shape, I'm just having a little fun with negativity . These are all purely my opinions and I don't expect them to be taken otherwise, but I was pompous enough I thought they'd be worthy of sharing. The comparison between TT and Iris was the Daezang was made Woongjin captain, but the captain, for a performance standpoint, is a purely ceremonial title. TT was an example of a captain who played hardly at all. Iris is an example of a captain that plays with some frequency. My bet was that Daezang is going to be the kind who doesn't play often.
But aren't like... all the all-star players the same as that?
EDIT: just re-read my posts, I kind of seem like a dick, my bad lol ^__^
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United States889 Posts
On September 14 2009 14:35 Valentine wrote:Show nested quote +On September 14 2009 14:34 Arrian wrote:Relax a bit brother, you seem a bit bent out of shape for some reason over this = [
Also, what's the comparison between TT and Iris? The point still stands about Boxer though. He's 'up' if you will just because he's who he is, and that's great. I'm not bent out of shape, I'm just having a little fun with negativity . These are all purely my opinions and I don't expect them to be taken otherwise, but I was pompous enough I thought they'd be worthy of sharing. The comparison between TT and Iris was the Daezang was made Woongjin captain, but the captain, for a performance standpoint, is a purely ceremonial title. TT was an example of a captain who played hardly at all. Iris is an example of a captain that plays with some frequency. My bet was that Daezang is going to be the kind who doesn't play often. But aren't like... all the all-star players the same as that? EDIT: just re-read my posts, I kind of seem like a dick, my bad lol ^__^
I dunno, could be. A glance at the ballot as of now it seems like results definitely have something to do with it. I don't propose that they have everything to do with it, of course, as in the end it's popular vote that decides, but in theory an all-star game is for the 'stars' which is a status generally obtained by playing well. Boxer is a star, and he plays like, pardon me, shit. Yet he's still a star. I think that qualifies him as a guy who can go nowhere but up. He wins, people love him, he loses, people love him, he smiles, girls swoon. Now that he's coming off really a terrible losing season, he's got nowhere to go but up, and if he doesn't, people will still love him. That's why he's in there.
And as for being a dick, it's cool. I didn't even see it that way. People generally react way harsher to my stuff anyway, so it's all good.
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
PMT is so dull not even Fomos is covering it.
'For the month of September, and part of August, OGN has essentially held a monopoly on broadcasted StarCraft, which we've been led to believe in very lucrative indeed.'
I'm actually happy about this - OGN has a better studio by miles. Plus it means I am more liable to provide extra coverage since I rarely visit MBC due to the terrible layout and lighting of the studios.
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United States889 Posts
On September 14 2009 14:47 NeverGG wrote:
PMT is so dull not even Fomos is covering it.
'For the month of September, and part of August, OGN has essentially held a monopoly on broadcasted StarCraft, which we've been led to believe in very lucrative indeed.'
I'm actually happy about this - OGN has a better studio by miles. Plus it means I am more liable to provide extra coverage since I rarely visit MBC due to the terrible layout and lighting of the studios.
And here is a "w00t" for NeverGG's awesome work. Didn't MBC open a new stadium like, a year ago? Or was that OGN? Fail if it was MBC. 'nuff said.
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Nice post Arrian.
I can't wait to see the new maps played in proleague, I hope tvz netagane shifts away from mech and back to bionic.
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T.O.P.
Hong Kong4685 Posts
On September 14 2009 14:49 Arrian wrote:Show nested quote +On September 14 2009 14:47 NeverGG wrote:
PMT is so dull not even Fomos is covering it.
'For the month of September, and part of August, OGN has essentially held a monopoly on broadcasted StarCraft, which we've been led to believe in very lucrative indeed.'
I'm actually happy about this - OGN has a better studio by miles. Plus it means I am more liable to provide extra coverage since I rarely visit MBC due to the terrible layout and lighting of the studios. And here is a "w00t" for NeverGG's awesome work. Didn't MBC open a new stadium like, a year ago? Or was that OGN? Fail if it was MBC. 'nuff said.
Yes, they opened a new stadium. But it sucks. Players can look into the crowd.
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Zurich15364 Posts
On September 14 2009 13:48 Psyonic_Reaver wrote:
Are you sure TL.net is the world's largest SC site? Isn't some of the Korean sites bigger? I mean. A less cool guy like me just doesn't know.
Good post though, I like informative posts like this that kind of re-cap events going on around the SC scene.
Nope, pretty sure TL is largest. Of course it's always difficult to get meaningful numbers. But Wemade (afaik?) did this study this year that concluded that TL is the largest site, even bigger than the Korean ones.
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Osaka27172 Posts
Nice writeup. Front page stuff.
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On September 14 2009 16:35 zatic wrote:Show nested quote +On September 14 2009 13:48 Psyonic_Reaver wrote:
Are you sure TL.net is the world's largest SC site? Isn't some of the Korean sites bigger? I mean. A less cool guy like me just doesn't know.
Good post though, I like informative posts like this that kind of re-cap events going on around the SC scene. Nope, pretty sure TL is largest. Of course it's always difficult to get meaningful numbers. But Wemade (afaik?) did this study this year that concluded that TL is the largest site, even bigger than the Korean ones.
yep i agree.TL is the largest sc site in the world.i've even heard tasteless saying it.
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Very nice write up, although I disagree with you about the pro league map tests.
There definitely were some really really bad ones, but also some really really good ones, the games on roadrunner today were also good. Boxer's match vs yarnc for example.
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On September 14 2009 13:30 Arrian wrote:
Boxer
He's playing in the map test. He's 29 years old. He hasn't won a game that mattered since the Spring preliminaries. And still, he's playing in the All-Stars match almost assuredly. As far as we know, the last person to go to an All Star game for doing so little was Barry Bonds. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy. If you're a StarCraft fan, you're a Boxer fan, and nothing proves that more than what we're seeing here. Boxer gets credit for being Boxer, and it doesn't get much sweeter than that.
Please stop equating being a StarCraft fan to being a Boxer fan. It is quite unnerving, considering that it implies that anyone who dislikes Boxer and/or the hype that surrounds him is not a StarCraft fan.
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Kennigit
Canada19447 Posts
On September 14 2009 13:48 Psyonic_Reaver wrote:
Are you sure TL.net is the world's largest SC site? Isn't some of the Korean sites bigger? I mean. A less cool guy like me just doesn't know.
Good post though, I like informative posts like this that kind of re-cap events going on around the SC scene.
We are larger than all Korean sites too. Some Korean companies did a comparison during some ad negotiation stuff.
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Wow. Well now I know. And knowing is half the battle. Good work TL!
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Imagine if we had korean fangirls on the site on top of that...:o
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leomon
Canada169 Posts
I didn't know TL.net was the world's largest SC site. Well, now I know, so CONGRATS TL!
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Canada8033 Posts
On September 15 2009 00:52 Tom Phoenix wrote:Show nested quote +On September 14 2009 13:30 Arrian wrote:
Boxer
He's playing in the map test. He's 29 years old. He hasn't won a game that mattered since the Spring preliminaries. And still, he's playing in the All-Stars match almost assuredly. As far as we know, the last person to go to an All Star game for doing so little was Barry Bonds. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy. If you're a StarCraft fan, you're a Boxer fan, and nothing proves that more than what we're seeing here. Boxer gets credit for being Boxer, and it doesn't get much sweeter than that. Please stop equating being a StarCraft fan to being a Boxer fan. It is quite unnerving, considering that it implies that anyone who dislikes Boxer and/or the hype that surrounds him is not a StarCraft fan.
However, you have to admit that the vast majority of Starcraft fans do like Boxer. He is, without a doubt, the most popular progamer in Starcraft. Heck, I even know several people that know who Boxer is, yet do not follow progaming in any way.
Also, "If you're a StarCraft fan, you're probably a Boxer fan" doesn't sound quite as good.
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On September 15 2009 10:07 Spazer wrote:Show nested quote +On September 15 2009 00:52 Tom Phoenix wrote:On September 14 2009 13:30 Arrian wrote:
Boxer
He's playing in the map test. He's 29 years old. He hasn't won a game that mattered since the Spring preliminaries. And still, he's playing in the All-Stars match almost assuredly. As far as we know, the last person to go to an All Star game for doing so little was Barry Bonds. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy. If you're a StarCraft fan, you're a Boxer fan, and nothing proves that more than what we're seeing here. Boxer gets credit for being Boxer, and it doesn't get much sweeter than that. Please stop equating being a StarCraft fan to being a Boxer fan. It is quite unnerving, considering that it implies that anyone who dislikes Boxer and/or the hype that surrounds him is not a StarCraft fan. However, you have to admit that the vast majority of Starcraft fans do like Boxer. He is, without a doubt, the most popular progamer in Starcraft. Heck, I even know several people that know who Boxer is, yet do not follow progaming in any way. Also, "If you're a StarCraft fan, you're probably a Boxer fan" doesn't sound quite as good.
Boxer may be the most popular progamer in StarCraft, but that does not mean that liking him and/or his gameplay is a prerequisite to being a fan of professional StarCraft. I am sorry if I am arguing semantics here, but people have made such statements before and it comes off at least a bit insulting (since it implies that you are a lesser SC fan for not liking Boxer).
I am sorry if my replies seem overly negative, Arrian. I like most of the thoughts you presented in this thread and wholeheartedly agree with them. It is just that that particular part struck me the most.
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TL is the largest sc site ever! And the best part of it is that it's totally awesome and is in ENGLISH.
Map tests are kinda boring, but it's at least something to watch.
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Great write-up Arrian! Pulls me through the sobering quietness (: Good thing this got highlighted on the front page.
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EPT
